Adjustable pillar

ABSTRACT

An adjustable pillar includes a foundation structure and a hollow pillar housing. The foundation structure includes vertical rods. The upper ends of the rods are threaded. The lower end of the housing is open. The open base end forms an opening into the lower end of the cavity. The open base end and the lower end of the cavity are sized to receive therein the upper ends of the rods. A base is sized to fit substantially snugly telescopically into the open lower end of the housing. A weight bearing member is mounted inside the lower end of the hollow housing. Apertures in the member mate with the upper ends of the rods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of pillars and pillars (collectively herein pillars) which are adapted for supporting the weight of a fence, gate or the like, and in particular to an adjustable pillar which, while being well adapted for bearing the weight of a fence panel, gate, or the like, is also adjustable to accommodate alignment irregularities upon the forming of the pillar foundation or otherwise upon mounting of the pillar onto an uneven surface so that the pillar's pillar box may be aligned vertically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is conventional that weight bearing pillars for supporting fence panels, gates or the like must not only be weight bearing structures but also well affixed to the ground by a foundation or like sub-structure or by mounting onto a base which is affixed to the ground so as to resist, especially in the case of gates, the bending moment imparted to the pillar by the cantilevered weight of the gate acting on the pillar so as to pull the pillar out of vertical alignment. The sub-structure supporting such pillars in order to resist the bending moment is often a foundation which is formed so as to be buried in the ground under the pillar, for example a foundation of poured concrete. In applicant's experience often the pillar itself is bolted down onto the concrete of the foundation so that, if the foundation is mis-aligned, that is for example if the top of the foundation footing is not horizontal, the pillar when mounted onto the foundation will not be vertical. Even relatively slight mis-alignment from the horizontal of the foundation footing will often cause visually perceptible mis-alignment from the vertical of the pillar due to the fact that the pillars are often quite tall and narrow and thus a small degree of off-set of the foundation footing from horizontal results in a visually perceptible mis-alignment of the pillars from the vertical. In the past, correcting the alignment of the pillar which is to be mounted onto a somewhat non-horizontal foundation provides difficulties and is laborious for the installer of the pillar, who has to employ shims or the like, keeping in mind that the weight being born by the pillar is often substantial and thus the shims employed to bring the pillar to vertical must be capable of withstanding a great load over the lifetime of the pillar without shifting or breaking down.

In the prior art applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,248 which issued to Kruse are Mar. 30, 1993 for a Pre-Fabricated Column Assembly. Kruse teaches installing a gate column by boring a hole in the ground and filling the hole with concrete to form the footing. Pipes are inserted into the concrete footing before it sets. Apertures are then cut through the wall of the tube forming the column on diametrically opposite sides of the tube to correspond to locations of bores which extend through a support pillar formed from the pipes. The tube is placed over the support pillar to rest on the footing and a threaded rod passed laterally through the bore in the support pillar. Threaded nuts are mounted onto the ends of the rod to fasten the tube onto the support pillar.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,664 which issued to Butler on Dec. 20, 1994 for a Self-Contained Automatic Gate System. Butler discloses the construction of pillar footings by inserting a cardboard tube into a hole dug in the ground, positioning a plurality of vertical metal rods with spacers within the tube and pouring concrete into the tube leaving the upper threaded ends of the rods exposed. Once the concrete is hardened a bottom flange of the pillar is bolted to the rods to mount the gate assembly onto the footing. A metal collar may be provided about the top of the tube, with a flared upper end of the collar at ground level if the pillar is to be mounted below ground level. The footing is thus left exposed to the elements.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,573 which issued to Newton on Mar. 20, 2007 for a Structural Pre-Fabricated Column Pillar for Securing to the Ground. Newton discloses a pre-fabricated column having rods which secure to the bottom of the column and a concrete form which is removably secured to the rods. A central tube is mounted in the column using support pans and is telescopically received within a receiver tube concreted into the ground. With the central tube mounted in the receiver tube, concrete is poured into the concrete form. Once the concrete cures, the form is removed and the ends of the rods plugged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary the adjustable pillar according to the present invention may be characterized in one aspect as including a foundation structure and a hollow pillar housing. The foundation structure includes a base having a substantially vertical plurality of rods extending therethrough. The rods each have upper and lower ends. The lower ends of the rods extend downwardly from the base so as to form at least part of an anchor when buried under the base. The upper ends of the rods are threaded and extend upwardly from the base.

The hollow pillar housing has upper and lower ends and defines a vertically elongate cavity extending upwardly through the housing. The lower end of the housing has a lower-most open base end. The open base end forms an opening into the lower end of the cavity. The open base end and the lower end of the cavity are sized to receive therein the upper ends of the rods. The base is sized to fit substantially snugly telescopically into the open base end without the lower end of the housing engaging, so as to bear directly down onto, the base.

A weight bearing member is mounted to the lower end of the housing in the lower end of the cavity. The weight bearing member has apertures formed therein positioned for mating registry with the upper ends of the rods so as to journal the upper ends of the rods through the apertures in the weight bearing member when the housing is mounted over the base so as to the telescope the base into the lower end of the housing.

Threaded couplers are provided which cooperate with the weight bearing member and are threadably mountable onto the threaded upper ends of the rods. The couplers are selectively positionable along the threaded upper ends of the rods so as to selectively position the weight bearing member along the upper ends of the rods. By doing so the angular relation between the base and the pillar housing is selectively adjustable so that the pillar housing is positionable into a vertical orientation when the rods are not vertical.

In one embodiment the rods are rebar and the base is a form, for example a box form. Advantageously the plurality of rods includes at least four rods, and the weight bearing member is a flange extending substantially horizontally around the inner circumference of the cavity. The cavity may be substantially rectangular in a horizontal plane. The apertures in the flange may include at least four apertures, positioned into opposite corners of the flange so as to cooperate with the four rods which extend up along the corresponding four corners of the box form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is, in perspective view, one embodiment of the adjustable pillar of the present invention with a gate mounted thereto.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane vertically bisecting the pillar of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is, in partially exploded partially cut-away perspective view, the foundation and pillar box of the adjustable pillar of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is, in partially exploded view, the modular pillar and gate of FIG. 1 mounted by hinges according to a further embodiment.

FIG. 4 a is a sectional view along line 4 a-4 a in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment of adjustable foundation according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5 showing a further alternative embodiment of the adjustable foundation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view horizontally through pillar box 10 so as to expose in plan view a semi-automatic gate opener mounted within the pillar box and cooperating with the gate by means of a pair of scissoring linkage arms.

FIG. 8 is the gate opener of FIG. 7 with the gate in a position perpendicular to the position of the gate in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The modular pillar according to the present invention has a hollow housing or pillar box 10 which is vertically elongate and generally rectangular on side. Pillar box 10 has rectangular openings, namely upper and lower openings 10 a and 10 b respectively. Openings 10 a and 10 b may be rectangular and may be defined by sides 10 c.

A circumferentially extending rigid flange or shelf 12 is formed circumferentially around the entire inner circumference of the cavity within pillar box 10. In one embodiment flange 12 is spaced upwardly from the lower opening 10 b by approximately one quarter of the vertical length of pillar box 10. Apertures 12 a are formed in the four corners of flange 12.

A foundation 14 may in one embodiment be provided which includes a frame of, for example, four vertically orientated rods 16 mounted to so as to extend vertically upward from a square base frame 18. Frame 18 may also for example be constructed of rods which have been cut to length and welded together at the corners. The lower most ends of rods 16 are also welded at the corners of base frame 18. Base frame 18 is sized so that, when rods 16 extend vertically upwards therefrom, the upper threaded ends 16 a align with, so as to be journalled through apertures 12 a in flange 12.

Ends 16 a of rods 16 extend upwardly through a box form or base 20. Base 20 provides a box-like form around rods 16. Base 20 is sized so that it may nest within opening 10 b so as to vertically telescope relative to the lower or base end of pillar box 10.

During installation of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the ground 22 is excavated and base frame 18 and the lower portions of rods 16, below threaded ends 16 a are lowered into the excavation. Rods 16 provide a reinforced footing when encased in concrete poured into the excavation. Base 20 is placed over threaded ends 16 a. Threaded ends 16 a are snugly bracketed in the corresponding corners 20 a of base 20, and are thereby maintained in their vertical alignment above base frame 18.

With base 20 resting down onto the upper surface 24 a of concrete 24 (or down onto ground 22 if concrete 24 has been covered over), lower threaded nuts 26 a are threaded down onto threaded ends 16 a and positioned at approximately the desired elevation of flange 12, that is, the elevation which corresponds to the desired spacing A of the lower most edge 10 d of pillar box 10 above ground level. With lower nuts 26 a in their desired position on threaded ends 16 a (or at least in their approximate position), pillar box 10 is lowered down onto threaded ends 16 a so as to journal threaded ends 16 a through apertures 12 a in flange 12. Flange 12 rests down against lower nuts 26 a. Flange 12 may be supported by vertical ribs or bracket 12 b.

Access panel 28 on the lower end of pillar box 10 is opened if not already open to as to provide access to the upper and lower sides of flange 12. Lower nuts 26 a are adjusted on threaded ends 16 a until the desired spacing A is achieved and pillar box 10 is vertical. Upper threaded nuts 26 b are then threaded down onto threaded ends 16 a so as to sandwich flange 12 between upper nuts 26 b and lower nuts 26 a. Flange 12, and thus pillar box 10, is thereby locked into place, vertically telescoped over base 20. The threaded ends 16 a of rods 16, flange 12 and nuts 26 a, 26 b are protected from the weather by their location inside pillar box 10 and base 20.

In one embodiment, base 20 provides a form for pouring a concrete base or footing, in which case base 20 may be made of sheet metal which may be removed exposing the concrete footing. The concrete footing provides a rigid base supporting rods 16 and in particular supporting threaded ends 16 a. In other embodiments, base 20 may itself be a rigid base, that is, is not replaced by a poured concrete footing.

In one embodiment, rods 16 are formed of so-called rebar, as is base frame 18. Threaded ends 16 a are formed on the upper ends of the rebar so to accept nuts 26 a and 26 b in threaded mating thereon. The sides 10 c of pillar box 10 may be made of sheet metal, as also may be access panels 28.

With pillar box 10 mounted onto foundation 14, and with foundation 14 encased in concrete 24 and entrenched in an excavation 22 a in ground 22 pillar box 10 is well adapted to resist the bending moments acting on the pillar box as a result of gates 30 being hung from one side of pillar box 10 by gate hinges 32. Gate hinges 32 may be selectively actuable hinges which may be selectively actuated so as to open gates 30 by means of actuators such as gate openers 52 housed within pillar box 10.

Hinges 32 may be mounted to pillar box 10 by various means. For example in the embodiment of FIG. 1, hinges 32 are rigidly mounted onto mounting plates 34 by means of bolts 36 mounted through adjustment slots 38. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, hinges 32 are mounted into channel 38 by means of slide plates 32 a sliding along channel 38 while engaged under opposed facing retaining flanges 38 a. Bolts 32 b frictionally engage within channel 38 when hinges 32 are positioned at their desired height along channel 38.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, threaded rods or bolts 40 are used to anchor a base plate 42 down onto a rigid surface such as a concrete slab 44. Box 20 is mounted down onto base plate 42. Threaded rods 46 are mounted to base plate 42 and extend vertically upwardly from base plate 42 through box 20 so as to be mounted to flange 12 through apertures 12 a by means of upper and lower nuts 26 b and 26 a respectively as described above. As in the embodiment of FIG. 2, flange 12 may have vertical reinforcing ribs or plates 48 mounted thereunder.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, rods 46 are mounted down onto an underground supporting structure 50 buried in ground 22 or in slab 44. Supporting alternative 50 may be cross bars, rebar, plates etc. formed to extend laterally from the lower ends of rods 46 into the surrounding earth or slab to stabilize rods 46 when engaged with flange 12 by means of threaded couplers 26 a and 26 b, although other forms of couplers would also work (collectively referred to herein as threaded couplers).

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a semi-automatic gate opener 52 may be mounted within pillar box 10 so as to cooperate with gate 30 for semi-automatic opening of gate 30. As seen in FIG. 7, with gate 30 at substantially a perpendicular orientation relative to its position shown in dotted outline, linkage arms 54 a and 54 b are pivoted so as to rotate the inner end 54 c in direction B about hinge pin or shaft 56. Linkage arm 54 b is pivotably mounted at its distal end 54 d to linkage arm 54 a, itself pivotally mounted at hinge 54 e to gate 30. Stop 58 a arrests rotation of end 54 c in direction B as end 54 c is rotated under the resilient urging, in tension, of spring 60.

In FIG. 8 gate 30 is perpendicular to the position of gate 30 in FIG. 7. Angle alpha (a) formed between linkage arms 54 a and 54 b is acute in FIG. 7 and obtuse in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 end 54 c of linkage arm 54 b has been rotated in a direction opposite to direction B so as to engage against stop 58 b. This compresses compression spring 62 and elongates tension spring 60. Hydraulic decelerator 64 may be provided adjacent stop 58 a so as to decelerate end 54 c prior to end 54 c engaging against stop 58 a under the urging of spring 60.

As also seen in FIG. 8, with end 54 c of linkage arm 54 b rotated against stop 58 b, actuator 66 may be selectively actuated so as to swing roller lock 68 on the end of spring arm 70 in direction C. This engages roller lock 68 behind end 54 c thereby locking end 54 c against stop 58 b. When it is desired to release the lock so as to allow tension spring 60 to rotate linkage arm 54 b in direction B, to thereby rotate gate 30 in direction D, actuator 66 is retracted thereby pulling roller lock 68 clear of end 54 c, that is, into the position illustrated in FIG. 7. Linkage arm 54 b is then to swing in direction B.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims. 

1. An adjustable pillar comprising: a foundation structure including a base having a substantially vertical plurality of rods extending therethrough, wherein the rods in said plurality of rods each have upper and lower ends, said lower ends of said rods extending downwardly from said base so as to form at least part of an anchor when buried under said base, and wherein said upper ends of said rods are threaded and extend upwardly from said base, a hollow pillar housing having upper and lower ends and defining a vertically elongate cavity extending upwardly through said housing, said lower end of said housing having a lower-most open base end, said open base end forming an opening into a lower end of said cavity, wherein said open base end and said lower end of said cavity are sized to receive therein said upper ends of said rods, and wherein said base is sized to fit substantially snugly telescopically into said open base end without said lower end of said housing engaging, so as to bear directly down onto, said base, a weight bearing member mounted to said lower end of said housing in said lower end of said cavity, said weight bearing member having apertures formed therein positioned for mating registry with said upper ends of said rods so as to journal said upper ends of said rods through said apertures in said weight bearing member when said housing is mounted over said base so as to said telescope said base into said lower end of said housing, threaded couplers cooperating with said weight bearing member and threadably mountable onto said threaded upper ends of said rods, said couplers selectively positionable along said threaded upper ends of said rods so as to selectively position said weight bearing member along said upper ends of said rods, whereby an angular relation between said base and said pillar housing is selectively adjustable so that said pillar housing is positionable into a vertical orientation when said rods are not vertical.
 2. The pillar of claim 1 wherein said rods are rebar.
 3. The pillar of claim 1 wherein said base is a form.
 4. The pillar of claim 3 wherein said form is a box form.
 5. The pillar of claim 4 wherein said plurality of rods is at least four rods.
 6. The pillar of claim 5 wherein said weight bearing member is a flange extending substantially horizontally around an inner circumference of said cavity.
 7. The pillar of claim 6 wherein said cavity is substantially rectangular in a horizontal plane, and wherein said apertures in said flange include at least four apertures, positioned into opposite corners of said flange.
 8. The pillar of claim 7 wherein said at least four rods extend up along a corresponding four corners of said box form.
 9. The pillar of claim 8 wherein said couplers are pairs of threaded nuts, each said pair of threaded nuts including an upper and a lower nut for sandwiching said flange therebetween. 